Let the children be the stars of the show!

Attention.  Kids want it, need it and thrive when they get it.  In my experience children love anything that singles them out as the star even if its just for a moment.

During our morning meeting (circle) time we choose two students that have been nice friends, great listeners, and a "bucket filler" all morning.  These students get to sit in the special chairs for all of circle.  The kids LOVE when they are chose to sit in the chairs.  



It might be a song:

Good Morning, Good Morning, Good Morning Kati
Good Morning, Good Morning
And how are you?

Kati, Kati Jump up and down
Turn all around
Touch the ground
Kati, Kati Jump up and down
Go ( sit down, to snack, go to centers)

Sing hello to Kati, Kati, Kati
Sing hello to Kati
Sing Hello

 tune: Do You Know the Muffin Man
 Do you know this friend of mine
This friend of mine
This friend of mine
Do you know this friend of mine
His/her name is <name>

Yes I know this friend of yours
This friend of yours
This friend of yours
Yes I know this friend of yours
His/her name is <name>

tune: If you're happy and you know it

(Child's name)'s here today, shout hurray!
(Child's name)'s here today, shout hurray!
(Child's name)'s here today, she will learn and laugh and play,
Oh (Child's name)'s here today shout hurray!

Another great way to make the children feel special is to do special activities on specific days.  One that we do is Show n' Share.  We have a specific letter that we are working on every week and so every Tuesday we have a Show n' Share with that letter before lunch.  We call each child and they make a big deal going to their cubbies and hiding their show n' share behind their backs before proudly displaying it to their classmates.  Its a great way to make them feel special while reviewing words that start with the letter of the week!